Barcelona have not given up hope of tying young midfielder Ilaix Moriba to a new contract, but new talks between the two parties failed to yield any results.
The exciting 18-year-old has entered the final year of his Camp Nou contract and has so far refused to sign an extension, which led Barcelona to warn him that he will spend the entire season with the reserves if he does not sign again. .
Mundo Deportivo claim that the club is still looking for a memorandum of understanding and new talks on an extension have been held, but they did little to clear the air between the two parties. Barcelona were forced to admit that they do not have the financial capacity to meet Ilaix’s requirements, and although they have proposed a compromise, it is not one that appeals to the teenager.
Those within the Camp Nou, including manager Ronald Koeman, are pushing for a final decision to be made this week. The boss is about to take his squad to Germany for friendly matches before the season and he wants to know if Ilaix will be part of the group.
Koeman is keen to use Ilaix, who gave him 18 tough gigs last season, but club officials are currently blocking his involvement with the first team due to his contract situation.
Instead, Ilaix is currently training with Barcelona’s B-team, but according to Sport, he could see himself banished once again and forced to train with the youth sides if he continues to reject an extension.
Barcelona want Ilaix to stay but are afraid that his head may have turned, with Real Madrid one of several sides feared to have started talking to their representatives.
Should Ilaix refuse to stay, Barcelona will sell him this summer before he can leave for free, and there is expected to be great interest in his services from the Premier League. Both Manchester United and Chelsea have been strongly linked with Ilaix in the past, but there will probably be many other suitors if the talented 18-year-old hits the market.
Both Manchester United and Chelsea have been strongly linked with Ilaix in the past, but there will probably be many other suitors if the talented Spaniard hits the market.
